Apparatus for cinematographically taking film-negatives of succeeding sections through and object.



, w. LOW. v APPARATUS FOR CINEMATOGRAPHICALLY TAKING FILM-NE GATIVES OF SUCCEEDING 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.'

Patented vFeb. 1, 1916.

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ECTIONS THROUGH AN OBJECT.

PPLICATION FILED APR. 15. 1915.

w. LUW. APPARATIIIS FOR CINEMATOGRAPHICALLY TAKING FILM NEGATIVESOF S UCCEEDING SECTIONS THROUGH AN OBJECT. 1,169,843.

APPLICATION FlLED APR-15. 191-5.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Patented Feb: 1; 1916.

for Negatives of Succeeding Sections Through an Object, of which the following is a spec1- 'fication.

UMTED sTATEs PATENT oF IcEL WILHELM Low; or HEIDELBERG, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR CINEMATOGRATPHICALLY TAKING FILM NEG-ATIVES OF SUCCEEDING- I v SECTIONS THROUGH AN OBJECT.

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Be it known that I, WILHELM- Low, a subject of the German Emperor, and residing at Heidelberg,Gerinany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus Oinematographically Taking Film- The present invention has reference to'an improvement in the art of cinematography,

' and relates more particularly to an imi proved method and apparatus for cinematographica'lly taking filmfnegatives of succeeding sections through an object, as largely used inscientific investigations, for instance in preparing anatomical, botanical or the like slides, and the invention essentially re- I sides in the manner in which theapparatus for making such sections, the microtome, is

positively coupled to the film and shutter operating mechanism of the cinematographic apparatus, the camera, so that the latter makes an exposure every time and immediately after the microtome has sliced a mi.- crosection off the object. Such a synchronized apparatus can then be usedeitherin" making what is called a section-ribbon, that is acontinuous band of successive, edgewise adhering microsections, and then photographing each individual depending section as it passes in front of the lens, or in successively photographing the freshly bared surfaces of the object every time a section is sliced off. This latter method is the more [reliable since the freshly cut surfaces are always sure to be in focus, while in the sec,-

1 tion-ribbon method the microsections are apt to be relatively displaced more or less.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown a preferred construction of apparatus,

whichallows either one'of these methods to be carried out, and it shows Figure 1 a plan View of'th'e apparatus, comprising cinematographic apparatus and microtome,'-with the rear part of the latter cut away," Fig, 2 a

' front elevation of the'microtome; Fig. 3 a

front elevation of the camera, and- Fig. 4: a side elevationof the-entire apparatus. 3

The microtome 1 is provided witha fixed knife 2 and avertically reciprocating clamp or holder 3 for the object 4. On turning the hand-wheel 5, the holder with'the object makes a complete reciprocation for each complete rotation of the wheel 5. Simul Specification oi Letters Patent.

I 'Application'filed April 15, 1915. Serial No. 21,527.

. tance.

Patented Feb. 1,1916.

taneously the object is advanced horizontally toward the knife the predetermined thicknessof a section during the first part of the down-movement of the holder, before the object has reached the knife edge, as is well known in the art. Thus for each rotation of the hand-wheel a section is sliced off the object. After the up-movement of the holder has ceased and'before the next downmovement commences, the object remains stationary for a briefspace during which the exposure is made-by the camera-6.

The dark box/Z of the camera contains the customary reels, the wheel train and other parts for feeding the film band, operating 70 ;the shutter and for other (purposes, and the wheel train is connecte through bevel wheels8, .9, 10and 11, andthe spurs 12, 13 and 14; with the shaft of the handwheel 5, and also with ithe revolving shutter 15 in object 4 remains momentarily stationary in 30 its uppermost position, the film also remains stationary, while the aperture or window 16 in the shutter 15 passes in front of the lens 32 of the apparatus 6. On the shutter continuing its rotation, the lens 32 is covered up and theobject now starts on its down-movement, the knife slicing off a fresh section and the film band advancing the requisite dis- The shutter covers the lens until the object holder has again come to rest in its .uppermost end-position, when the-filmband also remains stationary again the window 16 of theshutter frees the lens and a fresh exposure is made.

The camera can be displaced to a limited extent on the vertical pillar-17 in any suitable manner. In its upper end position (Figs. 3 and 4) -in which the bevel wheel 10 meshes with the wheel 11, its lens 32'faces and'is focused on the object 4:, so that after 100 each slicing operation, the successively re- ;vealed surfaces of the object are photographv,

ically taken. r

If in place of the object surfaces the microsections are to be taken in succession 105 as they are being sliced off, the microtome is: til-ted somewhat toward the camera so that the individual microsections, which adhere with their edges to one'another in the making and form a so-called section-ribbon (see 110 such timed relation that on each rotation of dotted lines in Fig. 2), freely depend from the edge of the knife, and the camera is slid along its pillar 17 into the lower end-post tion, in which the bevel wheel 10 meshes with the wheel 18, when operative connection is had with the microtome through wheels 10, 18, 19, 20 and 1 1. The lens 32, in this position of the camera, is then focused on the space 21 (Fig. 2) of the section-ribbon.

At one side of the camera is provided a device for illuminating the object 4: or irradiating the transparent sections at 21: It consists of a source of light, for instance an electric lamp 22 with condenser 23, diaphragm 24 and cooler 25. In order to retain the object sufficiently long in its position of rest during the exposure, the stud 26 on crank arm 27 (Figs. 1 and 4) engagesin a slot 33 of the sliding carriage 28 which sup ports the object holder 3. Thus, the object remains temporarily stationary in its uppermost as well as in its lowermost position, of which however only the former stop is used for the purposes of this invention.

For preventing the taking of pictures before everythingis ready, the window 16 of the revolving shutter may ordinarily be kept closed by a slide 29, which serves also to adjust the width of the window.

Instead of starting and maintaining the operation of the described mechanism by the handwheel 5 of the microtome, any other suitable rotary part may be hand or power driven, for instance the crank 31 fixed on the shaft 30 of the camera train.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for cinematographically taking film negatives of succeeding sections through an objectyin combination, a motion picture camera including interde pendent film feeding and shutter mechanisms, a microtome, and means positively coupling said film feeding and shutter mechanisms to said microtome and operating them in timed relation.

2. In an apparatus of the type set forth, in combination, a motion picture camera unit including interdependent film feeding and shutter mechanisms, a microtome unit, and

motion transmission mechanism positively coupling the said two units in such manner that an exposure is made on the film, through the shutter, of an object presented by said microtome every time the microtome has operated on this object.

.3. In an apparatus of the type set forth, in combination, a. motion picture camera in cluding interdependent film feeding and shutter mechanisms, a microtome, means comprising a train of wheels for operatively coupling said camera and said microtome in synchronism, and means for focusing said camera on different levels relative to said microtome.

4:. In an apparatus of the type set forth,

- in combination, a motion picture camera in cluding film feeding mechanism and a revolving shutter; 'a microtome lncludmg a reciprocating ob ect holder; and means operatively coupling said film feeding mechtome unit includinga reciprocating object holder; means for intercoupling the said two units in timed relation; means for adjusting the vertical focusing level of said camera relative to said microtome; and means in connection with said camera for illuminating or irradiating the object to be photographed.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

WILHELM Low. 

